anyone understand Amazon royalties?

radiohead · 12-12-2010, 08:51 PM

In plain English how do you qualify for 70%

what do you have to do?

I have written a novel?

Is that public domain or what?

Cheers

S

wallcraft · 12-12-2010, 10:32 PM

If you write a novel, you own the copyright. It won't be in the public domain for at least 10's of years after your death (typically 50-70 years), the details vary between countries.

To get the 70% deal you have to set a list price between $2.99 and $9.99, agree to let Amazon sell in all markets (non-exclusive world-wide rights), and agree to take 70% of the sale price which is set by Amazon (between your list price and $2.99) and could change. You also agree not to sell for less anywhere else and to set the price at 80% or less of any physical book version.

With the 35% deal, you get 35% of the list price, which has to be at least $0.99, and you can add geographic restrictions if you want.

Amazon's Pricing Page and List Price Requirements provide more details.

The $2.99 requirement for 70% has been a problem for some authors who also sell on other sites like Smashwords, because they had no control of the selling price and Amazon would switch to 35% if this went below $2.99. This is why Smashwords is going to Agency pricing, where they (i.e. their authors) set the selling price.

neilmarr · 12-13-2010, 05:15 AM

The snag is, I've found, that 70% applies only to sales in the USA. Sales of ebooks elsewhere return only 35%.

And do NOT confuse 'sales commission' with 'royalties'. That's an in-store ploy. In other words, Amazon will take a 30% commission on sales within the USA (merely reasonable, by no means generous) and a whopping 65% sales commission on sales outside the USA.

Remember that this applies only to your recommended retail price. Amazon loads ebook cover prices by two dollars in the UK and Eire and four dollars elsewhere for reasons that are not satsfactorily explained. The author/publisher sees no benefit from the price loading. Neil

HarryT · 12-13-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

The snag is, I've found, that 70% applies only to sales in the USA.

USA and UK.

radiohead · 12-13-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

If you write a novel, you own the copyright. It won't be in the public domain for at least 10's of years after your death (typically 50-70 years), the details vary between countries.

To get the 70% deal you have to set a list price between $2.99 and $9.99, agree to let Amazon sell in all markets (non-exclusive world-wide rights), and agree to take 70% of the sale price which is set by Amazon (between your list price and $2.99) and could change. You also agree not to sell for less anywhere else and to set the price at 80% or less of any physical book version.

With the 35% deal, you get 35% of the list price, which has to be at least $0.99, and you can add geographic restrictions if you want.

Amazon's Pricing Page and List Price Requirements provide more details.

The $2.99 requirement for 70% has been a problem for some authors who also sell on other sites like Smashwords, because they had no control of the selling price and Amazon would switch to 35% if this went below $2.99. This is why Smashwords is going to Agency pricing, where they (i.e. their authors) set the selling price.

Thanks very much

this has cleared it up for me

Steve

HarryT · 12-14-2010, 03:50 AM

I would further add that you are of course entirely at liberty to place your book in the public domain, should you wish to do so.

radiohead · 12-17-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I would further add that you are of course entirely at liberty to place your book in the public domain, should you wish to do so.

Thanks you have been a big help--gone for the 70% now

Steve

J. Strnad · 12-18-2010, 02:26 AM

Yeah, you really have to watch that no one sells your book for less than $2.99 or Amazon will match that price AND reduce your royalty from 70% to 35%!

Before Smashwords went to agency pricing, I saw Kobobooks reduce Risen from $2.99 to $2.39, so Amazon reduced its price and lowered my royalty. So then I had to list it at $3.75 at Smashwords so that the discounted price would be at least $2.99, which was silly.

Now the price is $2.99 across the board and it all makes sense.

radiohead · 12-19-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

Yeah, you really have to watch that no one sells your book for less than $2.99 or Amazon will match that price AND reduce your royalty from 70% to 35%!

Before Smashwords went to agency pricing, I saw Kobobooks reduce Risen from $2.99 to $2.39, so Amazon reduced its price and lowered my royalty. So then I had to list it at $3.75 at Smashwords so that the discounted price would be at least $2.99, which was silly.

Now the price is $2.99 across the board and it all makes sense.

Thats what I've done--2.99 and peace of mind--in a sense

thanks for the reply i appreciate it

12-12-2010, 08:51 PM	#1
radiohead radiohead Posts: 23 Karma: 26 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Isle of Skye Device: Kindle	anyone understand Amazon royalties? In plain English how do you qualify for 70% what do you have to do? I have written a novel? Is that public domain or what? Cheers S

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12-12-2010, 10:32 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	If you write a novel, you own the copyright. It won't be in the public domain for at least 10's of years after your death (typically 50-70 years), the details vary between countries. To get the 70% deal you have to set a list price between $2.99 and $9.99, agree to let Amazon sell in all markets (non-exclusive world-wide rights), and agree to take 70% of the sale price which is set by Amazon (between your list price and $2.99) and could change. You also agree not to sell for less anywhere else and to set the price at 80% or less of any physical book version. With the 35% deal, you get 35% of the list price, which has to be at least $0.99, and you can add geographic restrictions if you want. Amazon's Pricing Page and List Price Requirements provide more details. The $2.99 requirement for 70% has been a problem for some authors who also sell on other sites like Smashwords, because they had no control of the selling price and Amazon would switch to 35% if this went below $2.99. This is why Smashwords is going to Agency pricing, where they (i.e. their authors) set the selling price.

12-13-2010, 05:15 AM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	The snag is, I've found, that 70% applies only to sales in the USA. Sales of ebooks elsewhere return only 35%. And do NOT confuse 'sales commission' with 'royalties'. That's an in-store ploy. In other words, Amazon will take a 30% commission on sales within the USA (merely reasonable, by no means generous) and a whopping 65% sales commission on sales outside the USA. Remember that this applies only to your recommended retail price. Amazon loads ebook cover prices by two dollars in the UK and Eire and four dollars elsewhere for reasons that are not satsfactorily explained. The author/publisher sees no benefit from the price loading. Neil

12-14-2010, 03:50 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I would further add that you are of course entirely at liberty to place your book in the public domain, should you wish to do so.

12-18-2010, 02:26 AM	#8
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Yeah, you really have to watch that no one sells your book for less than $2.99 or Amazon will match that price AND reduce your royalty from 70% to 35%! Before Smashwords went to agency pricing, I saw Kobobooks reduce Risen from $2.99 to $2.39, so Amazon reduced its price and lowered my royalty. So then I had to list it at $3.75 at Smashwords so that the discounted price would be at least $2.99, which was silly. Now the price is $2.99 across the board and it all makes sense.